Balinese officials remain confident that the remaining members of the Bali Nine will continue to serve their life sentences when they are transferred back to Australia.
Willy Aditya, chairman of Commission XIII that oversees human rights, immigration and terrorism, said he strongly supported the transfer plan while speaking from Kerobokan prison on Saturday.
He said the five remaining members would continue their prison sentences and that negotiations were still ongoing.
“This is political good will that should be welcomed,” he said.
‘Although we do not have a regulation for the transfer of prisoners, they can still be transferred. We don’t release them. They are simply transferred to their country to continue their prison sentence.
‘In this regard, we hope that Australia will reciprocate. “Now we are negotiating with Australia.”
His comment comes after Indonesian human rights lawyer Yusril Ihza Mahendra met Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke in Jakarta on Tuesday.
Burke received a draft proposal for the return of inmates who were arrested in 2005 for attempting to smuggle more than 8 kilos of heroin off the Indonesian resort island.
Five of the Bali Nine – Scott Rush, Matthew Norman (pictured), Si-Yi Chen, Martin Stephens and Michael Czugaj – will be transferred to Australia.
They include Scott Rush, Matthew Norman, Si-Yi Chen, Martin Stephens and Michael Czugaj.
Ringleaders Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were executed in 2015, sparking a diplomatic incident with Australia, while Renae Lawrence was freed in 2018 and Tan Duc Than Nguyen died of cancer the same year.
‘We never released them. Don’t misunderstand. We are transferred in a prisoner condition back to the country concerned,” Mr. Mahendra said.
‘So even if the Bali Nine case is later transferred to Australia, we will not be the ones to free them, but we will transfer them to Australia as prisoners.
‘They will later serve their sentences in Australia according to our court decision. “This must be recognized and respected by the Australian Government.”
Mahendra added that if the Australian government subsequently decides to grant a pardon, remission or amnesty, that decision will be entirely within its authority.
Burke said it was a “significant step forward” after an Indonesian proposal was delivered during the meeting and said it showed “significant goodwill”.
Impediments within both legal systems were discussed.
Balinese officials remain adamant that the remaining members of the Bali Nine (pictured) will continue to serve life sentences in Australia.
“I have full respect for the Indonesian legal system and approach discussions with great respect and great humility,” Mr Burke said.
“There are some issues that have not yet been resolved and work will continue among our officials.”
Jakarta is seeking the repatriation of Indonesian prisoners held in Australia as part of any deal.
Mahendra said the terms of the draft include the remaining five members of the Bali Nine being banned from returning to Indonesia, regulations on the legal basis for the transfer and a requirement that Australia respect the Indonesian court’s decision.
“The ball is no longer in our government’s court, but in the Australian government’s court,” he explained.
On Friday, camera crews were invited inside the prison on the Indonesian resort island, where Norman was photographed speaking with officials and Chen working in a silversmithing class with other prisoners.